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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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What is the most entertaining spectacle in the world? A fight.
And for students, the most shockingly entertaining fight was one between teachers.
The commotion drew a crowd, and the gossipmongers in each class sent students flocking to the faculty office with cries of,
“Spenny and Horfin are fighting!”
‘Damn it, can’t they read the room…’
“I’d appreciate it if you refrained from forcibly taking students from our magic studies department!”
“But Egenir came to me for training voluntarily!”
Spenny and Horfin weren’t armed, but the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
“Teachers, please calm down…”
“Egenir!”
“Egenir!”
They both turned to him simultaneously.
“Yes?”
“Do you prefer magic or swordsmanship?!”
“Are you my student, or Horfin’s?!”
Their shouts made his head spin.
“Magic can’t compare to the raw power of a warrior.”
“Excuse me?!”
“Isn’t it obvious? Why else would there be more swordsmen than mages? Of course, mana circuit methods can be helpful for swordsmanship.”
Horfin insisted that Egenir was only interested in mana circuits to enhance his swordsmanship.
“Are you saying magic is inferior to swordsmanship?”
“You can’t learn about the world from books. You need to experience it firsthand, with a burning passion in your heart!”
“Teacher Horfin, are you sure you want to say that?”
“Teacher Spenny, I’m simply stating facts. Mages…without knights and soldiers to protect them, they’d be running for their lives from the demons, wouldn’t they?”
“Oh…”
Spenny gaped at him, shaking her head in disbelief.
“You…you shameless…”
“I’m simply stating facts. Facts. The Royal Knights, the Royal Soldiers, even mercenaries and adventurers…without them, would mages be so respected? The demons are still rampant, and it’s our swords and spears that strike the first blow.”
“Are you saying that after seeing how many demons mages have defeated?”
“Yes, I am.”
The atmosphere turned hostile, even the other teachers in the faculty office feeling the tension. The conflict escalated from a personal squabble to a departmental war.
Even the teachers who usually avoided confrontation began to chime in, muttering under their breaths.
“Magic…it’s always been like that.”
“What did you say?!”
The alchemy teacher, also part of the magic faction, yelled at the shielding instructor.
“Isn’t it true? A skilled mage is an asset, but…a mage gripped by fear is useless.”
“The same can be said for unskilled swordsmen.”
Another mage teacher, adjusting his glasses, retorted.
“Mages have to scout ahead, disarm traps, and warn about dangers. And what do the swordsmen say?”
The tension escalated further.
“They claim it’s safe because they’ve experienced it firsthand? How reassuring. And they accuse us of being scared? You excluded skilled mages, didn’t you? I’ve seen ‘skilled’ swordsmen panic and almost wipe out entire parties.”
“That’s because we’re on the front lines, risking our lives!”
“Are you saying mages don’t risk their lives?”
“Honestly? While we’re fighting tooth and nail against claws, tails, spears, and swords, mages are casting spells from a safe distance. Are they risking their lives? If we fall, they just run away.”
This was…true.
In gaming terms, it was the classic melee DPS/tank versus ranged DPS/mage debate. The front-liners were the damage dealers, while the back-liners were the support.
The argument raged.
“Everyone, please calm down.”
Ironically, it was Egenir, a student, who intervened.
‘This is going to get out of hand.’
The deeper the conflict, the worse it would be for his affinity-raising plans. He had to stop this. A teacher’s fight escalating into a student brawl, then an all-out academy war…
“Isn’t this just…everyone talking about their own specialty?”
“Huh?”
“Swordsmen don’t fight from the back? When outnumbered, or in tight spaces, haven’t you ever used a bow or thrown a rock to help your teammates?”
“Well…”
“It’s the same for mages. Do mages want to fight from a distance? Because of long casting times and the need for a safe position to maximize their spells’ effectiveness, they have no choice but to fight from the back. If your comrades were dying, would you really run away? Don’t any of you have mage friends? Comrades who’ve fought alongside you, risked their lives with you?”
“Ahem.”
The swordsmen coughed awkwardly.
Those with combat or exploration experience had mage friends, comrades who’d shared life-and-death situations.
“And mage teachers…don’t you use your staffs for close combat when ambushed? When there’s no time to cast spells, you fight for your lives, don’t you?”
“That’s right.”
The mages agreed readily. They’d wanted to refute the accusation of not risking their lives. The hostility remained, but they were listening.
“You’ve experienced it, haven’t you? That’s what swordsmen face constantly. Even if we want to listen to the mages, is it easy to entrust our lives to someone else?”
“…”
“So swordsmen make their own decisions, take responsibility for their own lives. That’s why they seem stubborn. But in a crisis, who’s on the front lines, buying time with their swords?”
The swordsmen straightened their shoulders, a hint of pride returning.
“Swordsmen are forced to make split-second decisions in dangerous situations…and mage teachers, wouldn’t you do the same if ambushed? Is it easy to listen to someone else when your life is on the line? Swordsmen face life-or-death situations constantly.”
“…Well…”
“And swordsmen teachers, do you think mages don’t want to risk their lives? If a mage rushes into battle and dies, wouldn’t you call them reckless?”
There were always a few newbie mages who recklessly charged into battle and got themselves killed.
“It’s about playing your role. Everyone’s doing their best, and we should understand each other’s circumstances. Mage teachers…”
“Yes?”
“Do you want swordsmen who blindly agree with you, then abandon you in a crisis? Or do you want someone stubborn, but dedicated, who’ll fight to protect you?”
“…”
“Swordsmen teachers…”
“Y-Yes?”
“Do you want a newbie mage who’s quiet and obedient, but freezes up and can’t even cast a spell when facing a powerful enemy? Or do you want a mage who might nag, but uses the time you buy them to cast the perfect spell to finish the fight?”
“…”
“That’s how it is. Swordsmen make decisions based on their experience, and mages offer advice based on their knowledge. You can’t call it nagging or stubbornness. If you fight amongst yourselves and the party collapses, what happens? A demon lord will appear and kill you all. Will you continue arguing in hell?”
‘Not me, of course.’
Egenir, with his ability to regress, was an exception, but he kept that to himself. No need to complicate things.
“A society, an academy built on mutual respect! Let’s work together, teachers and students alike, to achieve this. I, Egenir, dare to say that both swordsmen and mages are essential, indispensable parts of a team!”
The teachers and students stared at him, then someone started clapping. The applause spread, as if it were the only natural response.
“He’s right!”
“The mages have a point!”
“Can’t argue with that. Mages have their own valuable insights.”
“And swordsmen have their experience. Real combat is different.”
“Experienced swordsmen are said to be wiser than mages.”
“And experienced mages have also faced life-or-death situations. We went too far.”
A friendly atmosphere returned to the faculty office. Everyone had calmed down.
‘Thank god.’
He’d risked it all with his rambling speech, knowing he couldn’t fight back if any of the teachers decided to retaliate.
He hadn’t even known what he was saying half the time, but his message seemed to have resonated.
“We’re learning from a student.”
One teacher chuckled, rubbing his nose.
‘Damn right, you should learn.’
Egenir smiled and modestly denied the praise.
“Egenir! I knew you were brilliant!”
‘Since when?’
Horfin clapped him on the shoulder, giving him a thumbs-up.
You’re the reason this happened, you…
“So…”
Spenny looked at him proudly, but the two instructors were now flanking him, their expressions serious.
“Yes?”
“Are you a swordsman?”
“Or a mage?”
The tension returned.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’
Egenir clenched his fists, breaking out in a cold sweat.
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Egenir spoke too soon for comfort.
Lol